Month: January 2025

I SENT MY FIRST NEWSLETTER TODAY!

This was something I had on my goals list for last year, but better late than never!

With the landscape of social media becoming less engaged, less personal and more focused towards algorithms and advertising, it can feel like a tall order as a solo artist to find new ways to engage, connect with and grow my audience. 

How does one make themselves heard through all of the noise? 

I’ve decided to revisit the newsletter approach! Mostly because I find it’s a really helpful way for me to stay connected to what my artist pals are doing!

Amy Dixon is a great example! She has always done a really great job of her newsletters and that has inspired me to begin this new venture- it’s more direct, it’s more personal and I love being a pen pal!

So, here goes! I’ve got a link to my newsletter sign up in my link tree and in my stories! If you’d like to be part of my pen pal club, I’d love to have you!

Yours truly,

Ellie 

Here’s the link to join!

Friends and lovers, you can catch me at Salisbury Greenhouse on Friday, February 14, performing my original tunes and some covers as part of RavenWood Music Festival’s Concert Series! 🌺 ♥️ 🎶

Bring your loved ones and let’s celebrate Valentine’s together with some live local music in a beautiful setting!

Tickets + info:
https://www.ravenwoodexperience.com

Speaking of beautiful settings, the Silver Skate Festival is coming up February 7-17 at Laurier Park and they’ve put together a local playlist (with some tunes by yours truly!) to play at the park while folks mill around and enjoy the winter festivities! ⛄️

In addition to Silver Skate, City of Edmonton has been using the playlist outside of City Hall daily from 11am-2pm and 6pm-9pm! Check it out next time you’re walking by! ❄️

It makes me so happy to have these opportunities to share my music with folks and grow my audience- thanks for receiving the good news! 🗞️

Exciting things are on the horizon! 🪩

The Critics in your head are lying to you.  

These pins started out as merch in collaboration with The Tesse Rae for my solo show Fake n’ Bake. My Critics were some of the main characters in the show, which explored personal themes of disordered eating, addiction, mental health and recovery.

In the first year I did the show, 10% of merch proceeds went towards Canadian Mental Health Association, Edmonton. The Critics pins were by far the biggest hit of all!

In fact, I remember needing to order more halfway through the run because the message on them resonated so strongly with people.

“Oh, my sister/brother/best friend/mom/partner needs this pin!” 

“Can I get 10 of these to give to people I love?” 

In the second year, I shifted to selling the Critics pins by donation, with 100% of the proceeds going to CMHA Edmonton. By the end of that summer, we had raised over $1,700 for the Canadian Mental Health Association.

In the fall of 2023, I partnered with all four locations of The Makers Keep, as well as The Tesse Rae in Highlands, to sell these pins by donation. %100 of profits from all pins sold go towards the Canadian Mental Health Association. 

Last summer, I had the privilege of learning more about this incredible organization. The CMHA provides vital support for individuals in our community, creating a safe, welcoming space where people feel empowered to address their mental health challenges. They are a fantastic organization that I will always continue to support. 

I’m proud to share (with thanks to the ongoing support of The Makers Keep and The Tesse Rae), we’ve raised over $2,068 for the CMHA.

The pins are still available by donation at the locations above and I also have a stash of pins and fridge magnets if anybody wants one. 

I’ve mailed them as far West as Vancouver and as far East as London, Ontario! 

I am THRILLED to announce that I’ve received funding to record a FULL LENGTH ALBUM!

I cannot stress enough how important this funding has been to me, in being able to step up my game as an artist and also, to be able to pay others in the process!

Any time that a granting body is willing to take a chance on me as an artist, it is incredibly validating and instrumental in providing the passion and impetus to keep going. So much gratitude to Edmonton Arts Council for all of the opportunities you provide for the creatives in our community.

I am beaming with light and wonder as my musical career continues to unfold. I cannot wait to begin this new chapter of growth and discovery as an artist!

In the meanwhile, I’ll be celebrating my music with some UPCOMING SHOWS:

Friday, January 10 at Felice with Travis Matthews, Angela Bégin and Bailey Sutton

Wednesday, January 15 at The Common with the New Standards band

Friday, February 14 at Salisbury Greenhouse as part of the RavenWood Music Festival concert series

Friday, March 14 at Chianti Cafe as part of SkirtsAfire’s Key of A series

Hope to see you at one or all of these!

In the interim, thanks to all who have taken the time to listen, to come out to a show, to watch a music video. It’s all very inspiring and exciting and I will continue to share as this process unfolds- thanks for being here!